Minister launches desalination link projects in three wilayas

Lounes Bouzegza, Minister of Hydraulics, supervised from Tlemcen on Monday the launch of three projects linking seawater desalination plants under construction in Tlemcen, Mostaganem and Chlef, Algérie Eco reported.

The projects are at Aïn-Ajroud in Marsa Ben M'hidi commune (Tlemcen wilaya), Sidi El-Adjjal in Khadra commune (Mostaganem wilaya) and El-Marsa in Chlef wilaya. The minister gave his speech at the launch from Salem village in Bab El-Assa commune.

The minister said the work follows directives from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. He said the projects aim to make the country's water supply more secure, to keep drinking water flowing for many years and to add more sources of water.

He said the projects are of strategic importance, because they cover more than 250km and aim to meet the needs of more than 9 million people by 2050.

What the projects include

The works include water transfer pipelines, pumping stations and reservoirs. They also include remote monitoring systems and cathodic protection, a method that protects metal pipes from rust and corrosion.

The minister said these systems will improve control of water structures, help them work better and let them last for many years.

The Algerian Water Company (ADE) is the project owner, under delegated management from the Ministry of Hydraulics. National firms, including Cosider and the GERHYD group (Hydraulic Studies and Works Group), are working on the projects.

Budgets and water supply

The Aïn-Ajroud project has a budget of more than 66bn dinars (DZD) to supply Tlemcen and Sidi Bel-Abbès wilayas. Its first phase includes more than 105km of pipes, three pumping stations and two reservoirs with a total capacity of 75,000 cubic metres.

The project should improve drinking water for about 2.2 million people by 2050, according to the sources.

The Mostaganem project has a budget of more than 55bn dinars from the Ministry of Hydraulics, to supply Mostaganem and Relizane wilayas. It includes about 110km of pipes, three pumping stations and four storage reservoirs.

What comes next

The minister said the State continues its efforts to develop national water infrastructure, increase drinking water capacity and make more use of desalinated water.

"This approach will guarantee that water reaches consumption areas and improve the continuity of the public service," the minister said, according to the Algeria Press Service (APS).